Stop motion for braiding machines



May 12, 1925. v v 1,537,576

A. BAROLET STOP MOTION FOR BRAIDING MACHINES Filed Oct. 4, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 12, 1925.

UNITED STATES ALFRED BAROLET, or wlcnroan, RHODE ISLAND.

STOP MOTION FOR BRAIDING'MACHINES.

Application filed October 4, 1923. Serial No. 666,479.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED BAROLET, a citizen of the United States, residing at l/Vickford, county of Washington, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stop Motions for Braiding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in braiding machines and particularly to machines for braiding elasticcords or fabrics.

The principal object of the invention is to provide improved means for delivering a plurality of elastic strands under tension to the braiding-mechanism, whereby they may be incorporated in the braid being produced on the machine.

Another object of the improvement con sists in providing a multiple stop-motion adapted to be actuated upon the breakage of any one of the elastic strands to arrest the operation of the braiding machine.

Another object of the improvement is to provide for greater accessibility and convenience in applying the elastic strands to the machine and in piecing up the ends when a strand or strands become broken.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. .1 is a side elevation of a conventional type of braiding machine, shown partly in section on its vertical axis, and illustrating my improvements as applied to use therewith;

Fig. 2, a part sectional elevation of a portion of the machine, showing the stoppingmechanism thereof, and illustrating my improved stop-motion as used in connection therewith Fig. 3, a sectional view of the clutchmechanism of the machine shown in detail;

Fig. 1. a plan view of the stopping-mechanism control-lever and its detent arrangement;

Fig. 5, a detailed plan view of the knockoff mechanism of my improved stop-motion; and

Fig. 6, a side elevation of the same.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, 2 designates the circular bottom-plate or base of the braiding machine and 3 is the top-plate in which is provided a sinuous track or raceway 4 for the sliding bobbincarriers 5, The top-plate 3 is shown infsec- 1 i tion in Fig. 1 to illustrate the manner in which the-shoes 7 on the carriers travel in the raceway 4 with their flanges 8 overlapping the sides of the grooved track and abut tions. The horn-gears 10 are driven from a i spur gear 12, see Fig. 2, which is rotated from a bevel-gear 141 connected thereto by a stud-shaft 15. The bevel-gear 14, in turn, is driven from another bevel-gear 16which is rotated from a driving pulley 17 adapted toreceive power from a belt 18.

I Referring again to Fig. 1, the horn-gears 10 carry hooked horns 20 which engage with depending studs 21 on the carriers 5 whereby to traverse the carriers through the track or raceway 1. Through this arrangement the carriers 5 are revolved in opposite directions around the machine while being caused to follow sinuous coursesxtoadapt them to dodge each other as they move in and out with respect to the axis of the machine. The carriers 5 carry yarn-bobbins b from which the strands 3 deliver through usual tension and let-off devices, indicated at241 as being mounted on standards 25 rising from the carriers. The strands y lead through guides 26 in the top of the standards 25 and converge toward the braiding point a? where they are enmeshed and con solidated in the braided cord or fabric C.

- The arrangement of the machine as so far described is common. to braiders of a well. known type, and usually a clutch-device 1s provided for controlling the operation of the braiding-mechanism. The clutch-mechacollar 34 fast thereon, being provided with lugs or spurs 32 adapted to engage with slotted openings 33 in the collar 34 and with lugs 29 onthe hub of the gear 14. The

extends upwardly to engage with a detentangled end 40'abutting the lower end of the shaft 15.

f-At the opposite end of the lever 35 is a handle41 for operating the clutch manually, and'a link 48 pivoted to the lever. 35 at 44 lever The link 43 is formed with a hook orcatch 46 adapted to hook over the edge of the detent-lever 45, as illustrated most clear- "ly in Figs. 2 and 4. The detent-lever 45 is of a general fork-shape and is pivoted at one end on astud 47 held in the edge of the top-plate 3 of the machine framework. The lever is operated to effect automatic control of the stop-mechanism by means of a link 48 having a pin 49 engaging a slot 50 in one of its forked arms. The opposite end of "the link 48 is pivoted at 51 to a vertically disposed lever 52 which is controlled from the stop-motion for the elastic strands in the manner and for the purpose as later described.

, As shown in Fig. 1, the lever ,52 is pivoted' on a screw 53 screwed through a block 55- into a vertical standard '56 which rises from the framework of'the machine at one A side-of the braiding-mechanism. The standof the machine.

ard or upright 56 carries a framework 60 at its upper end, on whichis supported the supply-spool S for the elastic strands As shown Figs. 1 and 2, the framework or bracket 60 comprises two upright arms 61 mounted on a cross-bar 62 at the top. of the vertical standard. 56, and connectedby crossrods"68, 64, 65 which are held therein by setthird rod 72, also' supported between the arms 61, and thence down around a roller 7 5 which is journaled in bearing-arms 7 6 bolted to the under side of the ba'se plate 2 I From the roller 7 5 the strands lead beneath'the' base-plate 2 where they are severally guided under individual guide-pins which direct them'to appropriate positions whence'they' lead upward through "the braiding-mechanism.

gears 10.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, several of the strands 8 lead under parallel guide-pins 77 mounted on a yoke-shaped bracket 78 secured to a framework 7 9 which is supported beneath the base-plate 2. Certain of the strands 8 lead from the guide-pins 77 to auxiliary guide-pins 80, 81 and 82, and thence are directed upwardly to the braiding-mechanism,each strand having a guidepin located in appropriate position to direct it upwardly through an axial opening in one of the horn-gears'lO. Fig. 2 shows the lower framework 79 in section so that only onehalf the whole number of guide-pins is illustrated in this view, it being understood that in the present machine the arrangement is such as to provide for incorporating eight elastic strands in "the braid. Any suitable number of strands of yarn may be braided into the fabric, the whole number being determined by the number of bobbin-carriers 5 used on the machine.

In Fig. 2 of the present drawings the machine is shown in section on its Vertical axis and only five of the bobbincarriers are illustrated; but it is to be understood that the numb-er may vary in accordance with-the type of-braid being produced. Likewise, a greater or less number of elastic strands may be incorporated in the braided fabric, but as here shown the machineis equipped for eight strands, with a single strand passing up through the axis of each one of the horn,- As the machine is shown in section in Fig.- 1, only four of the elastic strands s are illustrated and these pass up through the axial openings 1n the horn-gears l0 and thence draw up through guides 83 at the upper endsof standards 84 mounted on top of the race-plate 3. From the guides 83- the elastic strands a draw to the braiding point :0 where they are merged in the fabric as it passes through the gatherer 85. It will thus be seen that as the elastic strands s aredrawn through the center of the circular quoits 86, which define the loop portions of the, raceway 4, the bobbin-carriers 5' are caused to travel around the individual elastic strands to entwine the yarns e therewith.

This arrangement of the braiding-mechanism is common to braiders of, the present type, and being well known in the art needs no further description. Suffice it to state that the supply-spool S for the elastic strands is placed above the braidinganecha- 7 nism in order to be convenientof access in feeding the strands to the machine and in providing for piecing up the ends when the strands become broken. The improved means for directing the strands to the braiding-mechanism forms an important feature of the present invention.

My improved stop-motion for controlling the operation of the machine from the delivery of the elastic strands is constructed and arranged as now described. Pivotally mounted on the forward cross-rod 68 which extends between the arms 61 are a series of drop-levers or sentinels 88, one for each elastic strand 8. The levers 88 are'of bellcrank shape with horizontal arms 89 carrying hooked wires 87 at their ends adapted to hook under the strands s as they lead between the two tension-rods 70 and 71, see Fig. 1. The arms 89 when their wires 87 are hooked under the strands 3 rest against the cross-rod 64 with the opposite arms of the levers 88 extending slightly away from the perpendicular.

as weights to swing the drop-levers 88 downwardly when the'hooks 87 on the arms 89 are released by the breaking of the strands s. In Fig. 1 the normal position of the drop-levers 88 is shown by full lines, while the dotted lines in this view indicate the position to which the drop-leversfall when the hooks 87 on the arms 89 are released.

The weight-arms 90 of the drop-levers 88 are adapted to strike against a cross-bar 92 forming a part of a movable knock-0d frame 93 which acts as the detent-means for restraining the movement of the pivoted lever 52 which operates the stopping-mechanism of the braiding machine. a As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the frame 93 comprises two arms 94 having pins 95 at their inner ends mounted to slide in openings 96 in the crossbar 62 at the top of the vertical standard 56. The arms 94 rest across the top of a rod 97 which is slidable in bearings 98 in the upright arms 61 of the bracket 60. The movable knock-off frame 93 is urged outwardly by coiled springs 99 surrounding the pins 95 between the cross-bar 62 and the right-angled ends of the arms 94 of the frame; the heads of the pins 95 being adapted to strike against the rod 97 to act as a stop to limit the sliding movement of the frame. In one of the arms 94 is a downwardly-extending detent-pin 100 which is adapted to engage with a slot 101 out through the top of the sliding rod 97. The rod 97 is pivotally connected to the upper end of the rockable lever 52 by means of a stud or pin 103, and is normally urged to the right, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 5, by means of a coiled spring 104 surrounding its outer end. The spring 104 is adapted to be compressed betweenthe side of the arm 61 of the bracket 60 and a washer 105 fastened to the end of the rod 97 by means of a screw 106. When the braiding machine is operating under normal conditions the lever 52 is held in vertical position with the rod 97 slid to the left, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 5, to compress the spring 104-; the rod 97 being maintained in this position by the detent-pin 100 engaging the slot 101 in the rod. When the frame 93 is slid The arms 90 are much heavier than the arms 89 and thus act I to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, this actionapparatus is as follows: The braiding machine is prepared for operation by mounting the bobbins b on their carriers 5 and leading their strands y up to the braiding point x. The spool S for the elastic strands s is placed on its mandrel 68 and the latter m'ounted in the socketed bearings 6'7 at the top of the arms 61 of the bracket 60. The strands s from the spool S are then drawn down underthe tension-rods 70 and 71, and around each strand is hooked the wire 87 at the end of the arm 89 of the appropriate drop-lever 88. The elastic strands s are then drawn down across the rod 72 and roller 75, and after being carried around their appropriate guide-pins are led up through the axial openings in the horngears 10 and quoits 86 to the guides 83 at the top of the standards 84. Thence the elastic strands s are led to the braiding point as and the machine is ready to be operated, all of the strands being first twisted togetherand drawn up through the take-up device, a portion of which is indicated at in Fig. 1. v

To start the machine the clutch-control lever 35 is raised to slide the clutch-member 30 upwardly on the shaft 15 whereby to engage its spurs 32 with the lugs 29 on the hub of the gear 14. The gear 14 will thus be caused to rotate the shaft 15 to drive the spur-gear 12 which transmits rotation to the horn-gears 10, it being understood that the bevel-gear 14 is continuously driven from the bevel-gear 16 which is rotated from the driving-pulley 17.

As the lever85 is raised to operate the clutch-mechanism the link 43 will be slid upwardly to. hook its catch 46 across theedge of the detent lever 45 it being noted that the lever 45 will be in the position illustrated in Figs, 2 and 4 when the lever 52 is in vertical position with its control rod 97 held. by the detent-pin 100. This position of the detent-lever 45 is effected by carrying the rod 97 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, to allow the detent-pin 100 to engage its .slot 101 after the elastic strands have been threaded into place to support the drop-levers 88 in raised position.

Now asthe machine operates to braid the cord or fabric C the elastic strands s will be drawn off from the'spool. S and will be under the rods 70 and 71, across the rod 72,

' bobbins on the carriers.

down under the roller 7 5, and thence to their respective guide-pins. As the strands 8 lead through the hooks 87 at the extremities of the arms 89 of the drop-levers 88 they maintain the weighted arms 90 of-said levers in raised position, as shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and 2-; but should a strand break or become exhausted its respective lever 88 will be released to drop into the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1., As the drop-lever 88 turns into this position under the effectlof gravity its weighted arm 90 will strike against the cross-bar 92 on the frame '93 with sufficient force :to slide the whole frame to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6., against the action of its springs 99. This sliding action of the frame 93 will release the detent pin from the slot 101 in (the rod 97 whereby to allow said rod to slide to the right,- as viewed iii Figs. 2. and 5, under the, action of its spring 104.

This sliding action of the rod 97 will rock the lever 52 to the position illustrated by the .dotted lines in F 2, and through its link 48 connected to the detent-lever 4-5 will swing the latter on its pivot at? to cause it to release the detent-link 43. I

The release'of the link 43 allows the control-lever 35 to drop so that it releases the clutch-member 30 which, under the action of gravity, will slide downward-1y onthe shaft 15 to disengage its spurs 32 frointhe lugs29 on the hub of the gear 141. The gear 14 will thus be freed from driving connection with the shaft 15 so as to be rendered inoperative to drive the machine. In this way the operation of the machine is arrested immediately any one of the elastic Strands becomes broken or exhausted so that the bra-iding action will be discontinued to prevent faults in; the fabric through lack of the proper number of strands.

Separate stop-motions are usually provided for the individualbobbin-carriers and arev arranged to operate in connect-ion with the clutch-mechansm of the machine as herein shown, so that the braider may be brought to a stop upon the breaking of any one'of the yarn strands leadingfrom the The whole machine is thus maintained under complete control to prevent faulty operation without the full number of strands being incorporated in the braided product. I i

It will be observed that my invention provides a most convenient arrangement for mounting the supply of elastic strands on the braider, and one in which the several strands leading from the supply spool i-are at all times exposed for: inspection and.

easily accessible for piecing up the ends. Furthermore, my nnprovement provides .a

simple and eflicient stop-motion which acts promptly and positively to arrest the operation of the machine upon the breakage or exhaustion of any one of the strands. The drop-levers or sentinelsfor the several elasticstrands are arranged in position above the braiding-mechanism so dSrllO be easy of access, to provide for. more expeditious f piecing up of the ends and setting of the stop-motion parts. The whole device is particularly simple in construction and proof against derangement or getting out of order and is adapted to, be attached to machines of standard type without alter-a tion of the usual equipmentand without requiring extensive machining operations or special fitting of the parts.

While I have herein shown one preferred 7 around the machine to inter-lace the yarns in the braided fabric, of means for supporting a supply-spool-of elastic strands above the braiding-mechanism, means for tensioning said strands as they deliver from the spool, means for leading the strands downwardly beneath the braiding mechanism, and means for individually directing the stands upwardly through the braiding mechanism in appropriate positions to adapt them to be braided into the fabric.v

2. In a braiding machine, the combination with the race-plate thereof having a raceway, bobbin-carriers slidable in the raceway, means to propel the carriers through the raceway to' cause the yarns from the bobbins to be interlaced in the braided fabric, of a standard extending upwardly from the raceplate, a supply-spool for elastic st-rands-rotatably mounted on the standard, tension-means on the standard for ap plying tension to the strands, means to direct the strands downwardlyfrom :the tention-means and inwardly beneath the raceplate, and means for individually guiding the strands upwardly through the raceplate in appropraate positions to be en aneshed in the fabric.

3. In a braiding machine, the combination with ft'lle race-plate thereof having a raceway bobbln-earriers slida'blef in the raceway, means to propel the carriers through the raceway to cause the yarns to be interlaced in the fabric, of a standard extending above the race plate,;a;-s1rpply-spool for elastic strands rotatably mounted on the T standard, means for directing the strands from the spool downwardly beneath the race-plate, a framework depending from the race-plate, and a plurality of separate guides on the framework for directing the strands upwardly through the race-plate in appropriate positions to adaptthem to be enmeshed in the braid.

.1:. In a braiding machine, the combination with the braiding-mechanism compr1sing revolving bobbin-carriers carrying yarnsupplies, and means to traverse said carriers around the machine to interlace the yarns in the braided fabric, of means for support ing a supply-spool of elastic strands above the braiding-mechanism, means for tensioning said strands as they deliver from the spool. means for leading the strands downwardly beneath the braiding-mechanism, means for individually directing the strands upwardly through the braidinganechanism in appropriate position to adapt them to be braided into the fabric, a series of droplevers supported from the elastic strands, stopping-mechanism for arresting the operation of the braiding-machine, and means actuated from the falling of a drop-lever to cause action of the stoppingmechanism.

5. In a braiding machine, the combination with the braiding-mechanism comprising revolving bobbin-carriers carrying yarnsupplies, and means to traverse said carriers around the machine to interlace the yarns in a braid, of a standard projecting above the braiding-mechanism, a supply-spool for elastic strands supported on said standard, tension-means for the strands mounted on the standard, means for leading the strands downwardly beneath the braiding-mechadrop-lever to cause operation of the stopping-mechanism. I

6. In a braiding machine, the combination. with the braiding-mechanism comprising revolving bobbin-carriers carrying yarnsupplies and operating .to interlace the .yarns therefrom in the braided fabric, of

means for supporting a supply-spool of elastic strands above the braiding-mechanism, tension-means arranged beneath the supply-, spool with the elastic strands drawing there over to apply tension thereto, means tolead the strands from the tension-means downwardly beneath the braiding-mechanism, means to guide the elastic strands upwardly through the braiding-mechanism in position to be braided with-the yarn strands, droplevers arranged beneath the supply-spool and having means engaged by the elastic strands as the latter draw through the tension-means, stopping-mechanism for the braiding machine, and meansoperated by the falling of a drop-lever upon the breakage or exhaustion of an elastic strand to effect the operation of the stopping-mechanism.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALFRED BAROLET. 

